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CBC's Andrew Chang in Rio: what the cameras don't show

While TV viewers may only see the glamorous side of the games, it's a little more cramped on the other side of the camera.

Chang shows the jumble of wires and construction materials that the cameras don't often show

While TV viewers may only see the glamorous side of the games, it's a little more cramped on the other side of the camera. (Andrew Chang/CBC)

Presumably many of you have been watching the Olympic coverage on CBC: it's wall-to-wall, on every platform, every device, at almost every hour.

But what aren't you seeing?

Some of the production equipment outside a stadium at the 2016 Olympics. (Andrew Chang/CBC)

The main Barra Olympic Park was built in such a way as to create exquisite sight lines from many different angles. Great pains are taken to be able to set up at specific vantage points to capture it.

But it's also not hard with a little bit of walking around to see the Olympic underbelly: construction materials, portables, wires and cables.

It's the side to Rio you don't often see on TV.

But to be fair, even CBC's carefully crafted shoots are less than lavish.

A look at what's behind the camera at one CBC studio in Rio. (Andrew Chang/CBC)

Often when you see beautifully lit interviews with wonderful backgrounds, you might imagine they were done on an expansive set with huge crews and lots of equipment.

But more often than not, especially abroad, it's a pretty bare-bones setup. 

Shelter for rain, lights, a riser, a tripod, and a camera — those are the basic ingredients.

The host city generally handles the rest.

Outside the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio. (Andrew Chang/CBC)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Chang

@AndrewChangCBC

Andrew Chang co-hosts The National. Chang was the Canadian Screen Award-winning host of CBC Vancouver News at 6. He has also spent time in the host chair for other network shows such as CBC Radio One's The Current, CBC News' The National and CBC News Now.